It is not must your normal Monday in September…..It is the beginning of “FAIR WEEK”!!!  It is hard to believe that the Jackson County Fair has been around for 74  years.  I wonder what it was like that first year that it came to Jackson County?  I am sure that it has came a LONG way since those first years that it made Jackson County one of it’s ”stops”.  I am pretty sure that the kids then were just as excited about it ”coming to town” then as they are these days.  No matter how many times you have been to the “county fair”,you still cannot help but to get excited when you see those many trucks roll into town.  I will admit that I have mixed emotions on this week.  I have such great memories of going to the fair when I was growing up and could not wait to take my girls to the fair.  Their first trip was actually when they were still in a stroller and they LOVED the bright lights.  I enjoyed the rides for them until they were old enough to ride by themselves. Ha!   Now as they get older, I get excited about when I see the posters and signs going up around town advertising the Jackson County Fair and the dates. BUT, then there is this feeling of “dread” that comes with it because I know the girls will want to go, take friends and then you have to “fit” the “Fair Night” into an already busy week.

I am sure the Fair brings back  many memories for you as well.  The Exhibit Building is one of my favorites and I always like to walk around and see what all the booths had to offer.  The animals were a favorite when I was younger but I have grown out of those in my adult life. Ha!   It always amazes me at how much talent we have in Jackson County when it comes to people who can sew, quilt, bake, canning, painting, etc.  If you have never taken a walk through the Exhibit Building at located in the fair grounds- you need to make time to do that one night this week.  I am sure you will see at least one name that you know who is responsible for one of the exhibits.

As for the “Concession Area“, you cannot pass up one of their great hamburgers and french fries.  The “VFW” members take care of having the concession area open each night.  They make it very easy for you in not having to worry about having dinner BEFORE you go to the Fair- you just eat there.

As for the “Fair Food“…..I know this may seem very strange but I always have these big plans to have one of the great smelling polish sausages with all of those peppers and onions (I would have to remove the onions because that is a vegetable that I do not like) served hot and ready to dig into… I cannot tell you how many years that I have had those plans and then for some reason when I get to the fair grounds,  I just never take the plunge and purchase one.  I think I am afraid that I either would not like it or I would make myself sick eating it and then I would never have the desire to have that “smell” in my mind when it comes to going to the Fair. Ha!

The other Fair “treats”  that I have fond memories of or that my girls love and MUST have before leaving the fair each year are Funnel Cakes, Candy Apples and Cotton Candy.  I wonder who decided WHAT food would be sold at a County Fair?  You have to admit that part of the Fair is the smell and taste of the food that is for sale there.  Can you imagine if there were just rides and games and NO FOOD TRAILERS??   I cannot forget their unbelievable corn dogs who are dipped into the batter and then placed in the deep fryer… It is just a good thing that I do not know how to make those at home.  It is bad enough that we have the Sonic a few blocks away that we can get good corn dogs. Ha!

Then there are the “Games” that EVERY KID is attracted to.  The one booth that I can remember for as long as my memory will allow me to go back to was the “Pick Up Duck” booth.  I can still remember concentrating so hard –trying to decide which duck I want to pick up and just hoping it was going to be the one that gave me the “BIG PRIZE”. Ha!

Then I always loved throwing the balls and trying to knock down the bottles (that I swear to this day were glued or concreted down) that were up on the shelf.  If I could just get behind the counter and see if it was even possible for them to be knocked down. Ha!

I loved throwing the darts at the balloons too.  How many boys have tried to impress the girls by throwing darts and popping the balloons just so they could win that girl a stuffed animal. Ha!  That is the one prize that I beg my girls to not bring home each year…They LOVE stuffed animals and it is just not the small ones that can be put in your purse on easily held in your hand.  It has to be one of the 10 foot curly snakes or the 25 pound stuffed bears. Ha!  But, then that is another part of the fair that makes it COMPLETE!!

The game that I always found so challenging was the ring toss and the prize for that was the gold fish!!!!  Where do they keep all of those gold fish while they are moving the “Fair” from location to another?  Do they have a huge fish tank that they “house” them in until they are put in the individual bowls waiting to be won?

I love riding the rides but I am not one that can ride the “upside down” ones these days.  The “Himalaya” is the one that you were EXPECTED to ride when you were in Jr. High and High School.  I guess it was “proof” that you were cool and not afraid of a few minutes of life in the “fast lane”. Ha!  (I think now they ride this at a much younger age)

Speaking of being afraid, the Crazy House or Spook House was one that it took me several attempts to get the nerve to make my way of up those stairs to go through the doors that took you into complete darkness. Ha!  Those of you that know me well, are not surprised at that because you know that I am a big “scaredy cat”.  I love talking about doing something that is scary or on the “edge”  but when it comes to actually doing something that will make me have nightmares later that night- I am simply nothing but a big baby. Ha!

Overall, I think the Fair is another one of those events that makes a small town.  I cannot imagine NOT having my childhood, teenage “Fair Week” Memories.  And now, I am getting to enjoy it with my girls.  I have said many times that I never want to grow up and this is just another reason why.  Who could ever not want to go to the Fair (even if it is only in your blood just a little) for just an hour.  Seeing the bright lights and the smell that comes from all of the food “frying up in that grease” and the music and the sounds of people laughing and having a good time… it just makes you get excited like a little kid does on Christmas morning (which I still do).

I am not saying that I am estatic about Fair Week because it not a part of our normal routine that we have been having each week BUT I will tell you that I am glad that my children have the opportunity to go and experience the same fun that I did for all of those years as a child.  And, yes I am happy to say that I get to take them to the Jackson County Fair this week.

I had someone send me the website for the Jackson County Fair.  If you would like to take a look at it, you can click here  and find out all you need to know. (I never knew that the fair had their ownwebsite)

The schedule for the “Nightly Specials” at the Jackson County Fair are as follows:

Monday, September 21: Mix 101.7 “The Storm” RIDE-A-THON (Armband-Unlimited Rides)

Tuesday, September 22: K98 “Buddy Night” (2 Ride for 1 with K98 STICKER)

Wednesday, September 23: Student Night (Armband-$20.00- Unlimited Rides-Watch for Coupons-$2 off bands)

Thursday, September 24: K98 Night (All rides just $1.00 each)

Friday, September 25:  Tickets $1.00 each (22 for $20.00)

Saturday, September 26: LAST NIGHT OF FAIR!!!

 Following are some additional information that you may want to know before you head to the Jackson County Fairgrounds this week.  There is also live entertainment each night that you can enjoy if you would rather not take part in the rides, games and just walking around.

Age 12 and Older – $3.00
Age 4 through 11 – $2.00
Age 3 and Under – FREE

 TICKET PRICES

Ticket Prices:
$1.00 EACH
22 for $20.00 (Save $2.00)

Gates open 5:30 p.m. nightly.  Individual Exhibit Building and Commercial Exhibit Building will open at 5:30 p.m. and close at 10:00 p.m.

Hope to have some pictures that Ginger Snap Photos took this past weekend by tomorrow.  Ginger and her crew were very busy this weekend taking photos everywhere so I wanted to wait and share some of those with you.  Cannot wait to see them and then share them with you!!!

I cannot wait to see who my FIRST “Purse Give Away” WINNER IS!!!!!!!  You will know if you are the winner, just trust me on that.  As for what the “prize” is today.  I will tell you that it has to do with Homecoming Week and the color “brown” ?????  Will let you know what it is tomorrow when I tell you who the winner is…

Hope your week is off to a great start!!  By the way, I got great news from one of my purse readers this weekend.  Katrina Patty (her family had Boot’s Photography in Scottsboro years ago) will be sharing some amazing photos that were just found by her motherand I know you all that grew up in Scottsboro and even if you did not- will find these photos to be great conversations…  Thank You in advance Katrina!!!   I will also share some interesting information that Katrina shared with me regarding the “Nail Crosses” that I talked about that Talk of the Town has at this time. 

Looking forward to a GREAT WEEK!!!!